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Monday, 10 June 2013

Review: Lauren Lapointe – Superhero

Lauren
Lapointe – Superhero(Independent)

Lauren Lapointe is a Savannah, Georgia based
singer-songwriter with roots in folk, acoustic and alternative country music –
three genres, that when combined, usually get described as Americana. That
sounds about right, though it’s worth mentioning that much of Lapointe’s oeuvre
comes with a rootsy pop edge, which is always appealing, and would sound great
on mainstream radio - in the way Laura Cantrell’s songs used to, and
occasionally, Lucinda Williams’ still do.

Her 2007 album “Butterfly” got her foot in many
industry doors, and “Superhero” should see Lapointe throwing them open.
Produced in Nashville by Thomm Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Mary Gauthier, Steve
Young), the sound is an engaging combination of classic country, narrative
songwriting and plentiful hooks. Jutz weaves these threads with some skill,
emphasizing Lapointe’s many strengths, and inspiring the musicians at his
disposal to some fine performances.

Kicking off with “Silent Hurricane”, its torchy
arrangement and conflicting meteorological imagery is clever and cool, and easy
to like. “Silver Cowboy Boots” brings to mind
both the fore mentioned Laura Cantrell and insurgent country legend Kelly
Hogan. It comes with a beautifully languid pedal steel and the sort of storyline
that country music built its reputation on, and unfortunately, is rarely heard
these days. It might be the best thing here, though both “Dusty Tired Angel” and the rockabilly flecked “The Ghost of Elvis” run it close.